Countries of the world have different types of governments and policy challenges

• Prime Minister: The Prime Minister (officially the President of the Council of Ministers) is not directly elected by the people. Instead, they are appointed by the President of the Republic after consultations with the leaders of the political parties represented in Parliament. Typically, the President will appoint the leader of the party or coalition that has demonstrated the ability to command a majority in Parliament. The appointed Prime Minister must then win a vote of confidence in both houses of Parliament to formally assume office and for their government to be considered legitimate.  

b. What is the qualification to be president or prime minister?

• President: Article 84 of the Italian Constitution outlines the qualifications to be President:  

  • Must be an Italian citizen.
  • Must be at least fifty years old.
  • Must enjoy full civil and political rights.

• Prime Minister: The Italian Constitution does not explicitly state specific qualifications for the Prime Minister beyond being eligible to be a member of Parliament. In practice, the Prime Minister is almost always a sitting member of the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate. While there isn't a formal minimum age, the individual would need to be old enough to have the right to vote and stand for election (currently 18 for the Chamber of Deputies and 25 for the Senate).

c. How long can the leader stay in power?

• President: The President of the Republic serves a seven-year term and can be re-elected, although this is uncommon.

• Prime Minister: The Prime Minister's tenure is not fixed and depends on maintaining the confidence of the Parliament. A government can fall if it loses a vote of confidence or if the coalition supporting it collapses. As a result, Italian governments have historically had relatively short lifespans compared to some other European nations. There are no constitutional term limits for the Prime Minister.  

d. How are laws made in the country?

The legislative process in Italy generally follows these steps:

1. Initiative: Bills can be proposed by the government, individual members of Parliament, regional councils, the National Council for Economics and Labour (CNEL), or by popular initiative (with at least 50,000 signatures).  

2. Committee Stage: Once a bill is introduced in either the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate (with some exceptions, such as budget laws which must start in the Chamber), it is assigned to the relevant parliamentary committee. The committee examines the bill in detail, may propose amendments, and then produces a report.  

3. Floor Debate and Vote: The bill is then debated and voted on by the full house. Amendments can be proposed and voted upon at this stage.  

4. Second Chamber: If the bill is approved by the first chamber, it is sent to the other chamber (if it hasn't originated there). The second chamber follows a similar process of committee review, debate, and voting. The second chamber can approve the bill as it is, reject it, or propose amendments.  

5. Possible Return to First Chamber: If the second chamber amends the bill, it returns to the first chamber for another vote. The first chamber can either approve the amendments or reject them (potentially leading to a deadlock).  

6. Promulgation by the President: Once a bill is passed by both houses in identical form, it is sent to the President of the Republic for promulgation (official approval and signing). The President can send the bill back to Parliament with a message requesting reconsideration if they believe it is unconstitutional or has other significant issues.  

7. Publication in the Official Gazette: After promulgation, the law is published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale (Official Gazette) and typically comes into effect after a specified period (vacatio legis).  

e. Discuss the political ideologies of the main political parties.

The Italian political landscape is dynamic and often characterized by shifting alliances, but some of the main political forces and their general ideological leanings include:

• Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia): Generally considered a right-wing nationalist party with roots in the post-fascist Italian Social Movement. They emphasize national sovereignty, conservative social values, border control, and a more assertive foreign policy. Their economic policies tend towards lower taxes and support for Italian businesses.

• League (Lega): Formerly known as Lega Nord, this party started as a regionalist movement advocating for greater autonomy or independence for Northern Italy. It has since evolved into a right-wing populist party with a strong emphasis on anti-immigration policies, law and order, and Euroscepticism (though its stance has softened somewhat). Economically, it often advocates for tax cuts and deregulation.  

• Forza Italia: Founded by Silvio Berlusconi, Forza Italia is a center-right party that generally aligns with liberal and conservative ideologies. It emphasizes free-market economics, lower taxes, and a pro-European Union stance, although with a more moderate and pragmatic approach compared to the Brothers of Italy and the League on some issues.  

• Democratic Party (Partito Democratico - PD): The main center-left party in Italy. It emerged from the merger of various left-wing and center-left political traditions, including former communists and Christian leftists. The PD generally supports social justice, workers' rights, environmental protection, and a strong role for the state in welfare provision. It is strongly pro-European integration.  

• Five Star Movement (Movimento 5 Stelle - M5S): A populist party that emerged as a protest movement against established political elites. Its ideology is somewhat fluid and has evolved over time. Key tenets often include anti-corruption, direct democracy (through online platforms), environmentalism, social welfare programs (like the "citizens' income"), and skepticism towards traditional political structures. It has positioned itself as neither strictly left nor right.  

• Azione and Italia Viva: These are smaller centrist and liberal parties that generally support pro-Europeanism, economic reform, and a more technocratic approach to governance. They often advocate for policies that promote competitiveness and fiscal responsibility.  

It's important to note that these are broad generalizations, and the ideologies of these parties can be complex and subject to change. Furthermore, Italian politics is characterized by coalition governments, which often require parties with differing ideologies to find common ground and compromise on policy.

References:

• The Constitution of the Italian Republic. (Various online translations available, e.g., on the official website of the Presidency of the Italian Republic).
• Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic. (www.camera.it)
• Senate of the Republic. (www.senato.it)
• UK in a changing Europe. (https://ukandeu.ac.uk/) - Used for specific detail on voting age for Senate elections.
• Various news articles and analyses of Italian politics from reputable international news sources (e.g., The Guardian, Reuters, Associated Press, BBC News).

NAME OF COUNTRY: ITALY

Discuss the main characteristics of the political system of your country.

Italy operates as a parliamentary republic. This means that the head of state is a President with largely ceremonial powers, while the head of government is a Prime Minister who leads the executive branch and is accountable to the parliament. The parliament holds significant legislative power and can remove the government through a vote of no confidence. This system is characterized by coalition governments, as no single party often gains an absolute majority.  

a. Presidential system/Parliamentary system etc.? How is the leader elected?

As mentioned, Italy has a parliamentary system.  

• President: The President of the Italian Republic is elected by an electoral college comprising both houses of the Italian Parliament (the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic) in joint session, together with regional representatives. The election process can be lengthy and often involves multiple rounds of voting. The President's role is largely that of a guarantor of the constitution, a figurehead representing national unity, and a key actor in political stability (e.g., appointing the Prime Minister, dissolving parliament under certain conditions).